Microsoft says it began collecting data outside its own Web sites
in 2006, when it launched a third-party ad network, and that
activity accelerated after the acquisition of aQuantive in 2007.
In its defense, Microsoft says it started offering an "opt-out"
option on all pages on which it serves ads starting in the
Spring. But it says a mere 1,800 users had taken advantage of it.
(Our challenge for SAI readers: Please show us where where the
"opt-out" option is on these pages. We'd love a screenshot.)

And anyway, Microsoft says, in case you haven't noticed, it's
getting killed in the online ad business. So if anybody has a
problem with its data collection processes, they should really
take a look at Yahoo (YHOO) and Google (GOOG):

in general, the entity with the largest market share in
delivering search and non-search ads will also collect the most
data about users.